IP fundamentals
What Is My IP Address? A Practical Guide
Understand public and private IPs, shared exits, and address changes, then check your current network and VPN connection step by step.
A website sees a network exit
When you open a website, the connection has a source address. A home router often translates several devices’ connections to one public IPv4 address, and mobile carriers may share an exit among subscribers. Treat the IP as information about a connection path. The ISP and ASN shown by a lookup describe that path, not necessarily a particular person or device.
Separate public and private addresses
The 192.168 address in your device settings normally works only inside the local network. It is expected to differ from a website’s public-IP result. Entering that internal address into a geolocation tool will not locate your home. IPv6 uses a different address configuration model; routable addresses and link-local addresses still need to be distinguished.
A repeatable check
Open What Is My IP and record the address, IP version, and provider. Repeat after switching Wi-Fi, mobile networks, or a VPN. Use the exit-path test to compare IPv4, IPv6, and WebRTC instead of relying on one address. When looking up a supplied IP, the result describes that address; choose Check my IP again to return to your own connection.
When to check again
Dynamic assignment, reconnection, and VPN changes can all alter an exit. For troubleshooting, record the observation time and connection settings rather than assuming there is a permanent “my IP.” Before sharing a report or screenshot, check whether it exposes an address you would prefer to keep private.